Campus Events Celebrate Black History Month

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Westminster College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Black Student Union (BSU) will host a series of events celebrating Black History Month this February.

The Westminster College Jazz Ensemble will honor the contributions of African-Americans to jazz at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, in the Berlin Lounge of McKelvey Campus Center. The ensemble will perform music from early black jazz musicians such as W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington, as well as more modern musicians and composers like John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thad Jones. The event is free and open to the public.

The following week, Westminster’s African-American employees discuss their experiences at Celebrate Black History Month at Westminster College event from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the Berlin Lounge. Featured panelists include Carllos Lassiter, vice president for student affairs and dean of students; Dawn Chapman, associate director of admissions; Jeter Smith, associate dean of student affairs; James Walker, director of public safety; and Stanton Fleming, director of user services.

African-American literary contributions will be celebrated all month with a Black History Month children’s book display on McGill Memorial Library’s first floor.

BSU members and Jeannette Hubbard, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will read African-American authors’ books to Farrell Elementary School students during the BSU Read-in at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Farrell Elementary School.

To round out the month-long celebration, the BSU will present the 2nd annual Ebony Ball, which invites all Westminster students to an evening of music, dancing and live entertainment. This event will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in the Witherspoon Room of McKelvey Campus Center.

Free blood pressure screenings for Westminster students and employees are also being offered throughout the month of February from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in the Student Health Center.

For more information about any of February’s events, please contact Jeannette Hubbard, director of diversity and inclusion, at 724-946-7179 or hubbarj@westminster.edu.